TN Congressman: tweet calling Cyndi Lauper 'hot' a prank

Congressman Steve Cohen

By HENRY C. JACKSONAssociated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sometimes, congressmen just want to have fun.

Democrat Steve Cohen says he wasn't flirting with singer Cyndi Lauper earlier this week when he tweeted that he "couldn't believe how hot" she was. Cohen, who quickly deleted the tweet, says it was actually a joke designed to get publicity for an upcoming documentary.

The Tennessee lawmaker says it was all part of a plan to draw attention to the news media's focus on salacious stories and promote a PBS documentary airing next Tuesday on the music scene in Memphis, the city he represents in Congress. He says Lauper had no idea.

Earlier this year, Cohen drew media attention when he tweeted a Twitter abbreviation for "I love you" to a woman he later revealed was his daughter.

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